(Newswire.net — August 17, 2022) — One of the best ways to set yourself up for a brighter future is to commit to ongoing training and skill development in your chosen career. Continuously refining your skills will introduce you to new subfields, higher-level positions, higher salaries, and more diverse opportunities. It also has the potential to boost your reputation – and bring you greater personal satisfaction as well.
So what are the best ways to develop new skills?
Formal Classes
One of the most straightforward options is to take a formal class to build a skill or learn something new. Depending on the complexity of the skill, that could mean enrolling in a college or university, paying tuition for a dedicated class, or even watching video classes online for free.
There are some free options here, but the biggest downside is that most formal classes come with a hefty price tag. If possible, see if your current employer will compensate you for your attendance to this class; if the new skill can help you perform your responsibilities better or take on new responsibilities, they may be more willing to subsidize your payment.
Skill-Building Games
Did you know you can develop some skills just by playing certain games? That doesn’t mean you can afford to slack off and play video games all day, but if you know where to look, you can find engaging games that can build your skills passively. One example of this is financial management games, which put you in the role of an accountant, bookkeeper, or financial manager so you can practice and refine your finance skills.
Mentorship and Shadowing
Another option available to you is mentorship or shadowing. In this approach, you’ll find someone who already has the skill you want to develop. Then, you’ll work with them directly to refine your own skills. That could mean shadowing them and watching them perform their responsibilities, having them teach you something directly, or collaborating on a shared project. In any case, you’ll be learning from someone who has already mastered this skill or area of expertise.
Cross-Training
Cross-training employees is an increasingly popular strategy for businesses. It’s incredibly valuable for them because it gives them an opportunity to diversify the skills of their internal workforces. The basic idea is this: two people from two different departments or two people with different sets of responsibilities train each other on each other’s core responsibilities. It’s a way to build redundancy and greater familiarity within your organization, and for you, it’s a path to learning a new skill conveniently.
Independent Study and Practice
Of course, it’s also possible to learn new skills entirely on your own. Thanks to the internet, it’s trivially easy to find information on almost any subject; after a quick search, you’ll probably be able to find books, videos, and online guides to learning whatever it is you want to learn. You won’t have a formal class structure or a dedicated teacher, but you will remain in total control at all times.
Volunteering
Certain types of volunteering can equip you with new skills as well. Remain on the lookout for volunteer opportunities in your area that could help you develop new skills; as an added bonus, volunteering is an excellent way to network and meet new people.
Keys to Better Skill Acquisition
No matter which strategies you choose, these are the primary keys to better skill acquisition:
- Choose skills strategically. Don’t just build skills for their own sake. Try to choose skills that are going to have a direct, positive impact on your career. Which skills will help you make more money?
- Remain frugal when possible. Speaking of money, try to remain frugal when acquiring new skills. If you’re not careful, you could end up paying thousands of dollars for something that you could have gotten for free.
- Take thorough notes. Always take thorough notes when learning something new. This way, you’ll be inclined to remember the information better, and if you ever forget, you’ll have something you can fall back on.
- Don’t overload yourself. Don’t try to learn too much at the same time. Learn new skills one at a time to improve retention.
- Have a plan to avoid skill loss. “Use it or lose it” applies here. If you don’t practice your skills regularly, you’ll inevitably get rusty; put together a plan to mitigate this effect.
As we’ve covered, there are many different ways to learn and develop new skills. You can choose some of them, all of them, or invent some new methods of your own. What’s important is that you remain constantly moving, developing and improving yourself on a fixed trajectory to better career outcomes. As long as you’re consistent and you keep getting better, you’re going to see better results.